Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease, it robs the sufferer of their ability to lead a normal life, of their cherished memories and of their family bonds.
Currently there are an estimated 850,000 people in the UK with dementia and this figure is predicted to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. Alzheimer’s is progressive disease for which there is currently no cure.
Much research has been carried out into the causes of Alzheimer’s but so far, no definitive answer has been found. The symptoms are triggered loss of brain cells however the cause of this loss is still a matter of contention.
Alzheimer’s Disease research is underfunded receiving less money than other diseases such as cancer and heart disease, sadly there is still a way to go in the quest to find a cure.
And that is where warriors like Zoe and Debbie come in. Zoe is head of care at Westhill Park and Debbie works in housekeeping, and like all our staff, they are passionate about supporting Alzheimer’s research. Working within the care industry gives an insight into this disease, the range of symptoms and the devastating effects it has, not just on those with the disease but also on their families and friends. Zoe and Debbie work daily with people whose lives have been turned upside down by Alzheimer’s, for them, raising money for research into a cure was just an obvious step.
On Sunday 26th September Zoe and Debbie donned their Memory Walk t shirts and trainers and set out to walk 5km alongside many others, all passionate about making a difference. Thankfully it was a beautiful day, and the atmosphere was electric. People from all walks of life coming together to make a difference, united by their drive to find a cure for this cruel disease.
They all walked together for the same cause, they walked for relatives they had lost, they walked for friends who are suffering, they walked for every resident they have had to watch progress through the stages of this disease, and they walked for all those yet to be diagnosed but most of all they walked in the hope that what they were doing would make a difference.
If you would like to donate you can scan the code to reach Zoe's Just Giving page.